Steerable one way snow plow



Nov. 28, 1961 P. w. ZUBKO STEERABLE ONE WAY snow PLOW 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1956 'Pe/r /////ara ZuAkO MI I h hl l l -I IJ ll v o N ATTORNEYS Nov. 28, 1961 P. w. ZUBKO STEERABLE ONE WAY snow PLOW 3 Sheets-Sheer.v 2

Filed July 12, 1956 INVENIOR.

PelZr WIT/am Zuko ATTORNEYS N 28, 1961 P. w, zUgKo 3,010,230

STEERABLE ONE WAY SNOW PLOW File d July 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet a do I (6! Fwy/[m b EY E INVENTOQ.

PETER WZUBKO United States Patent 3,010,230 STEERABLE ONE WAY SNOW PLOW Peter Willard Zubko, Box 76, Stenen, Saskatchewan, Canada Filed July 12, 1956, Ser. No. 597,528 4 Claims. (Cl. 37-42) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in snow plows, particulmly snow plows adapted to be situated in front of a conventional tractor, the principal object and essence of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is adapted to be mounted forwardly of the tractor, but with the thrust coming from the rear end of the tractor, thereby facilitating traction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is a relatively heavy duty plow and which, due to the increased traction obtained, can be driven by a relatively small tractor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described wherein the angle of inclination of the blade can be varied and wherein the entire snow plow may be raised clear of the ground if desired.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes a pair of ground engaging runners supporting the front end of the plow, said runners being connected to the steering mechanism of the tractor, thereby permitting the elimination of the side draft when doing side delivery work.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is readily attached and detached from the tractor.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which due to the size and angle of the blade assisted by the elimination of side draft by the steerable runners, permitting a very wide swath to be taken and also permits the building of relatively high banks.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which permits the maintenance of wide and open roads by the efficient speedy and economical removal of snow therefrom.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is relatively veconomical in manufacture, simple in construction, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this.

specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view showing the general arrangement of my device upon a tractor, the blade of th device being shown by dotted lines.

FlGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rear transverse blade member showing the attachment and details of the runners and steering mechanism.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of one front side of my device showing the attachment of the runners to the plow.

FlGURE 4 is a perspective view of the blade per se, in reduced scale.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, showing the attachment of the jack to the tractor chassis and to the blade.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side view showing the attachment of the diagonal members to the rear of the blade.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the supporting of the tie rod in the clevises.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, sectioned in part showing the attachment of the runners to the plow.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding now to describe my invention in detail, reference to the accompanying drawings will show that I have illustrated what I define as a thrust chassis collectively designated 1 mounted upona tractor 2 and carrying a snow plow blade collectively designated 3 upon the forward end of said tractor. in detail, the thrust chassis comprises a pair of longitudinal side members 4 of tubular stock, each of said members having telescopic extensions 5 slidab ly engageable within the rear ends 6 of the members 4 and being positioned in the desired location by means of the engagement of pins 7 through apertures within the members 5 and through selected apertures 8 within the members 4. At the rear ends of the members 5, I have provided transverse bearing sleeves 9 engageable around shoulders 14) on the ends of a rear transverse member It so that the longitudinal side members 1 can pivot around It} within limits, as will hereinafter be described.

Members 11 are secured to the transverse rear member 10 and incline forwardly and inwardly and are adapted to be secured to the rear portion of the chassis of the tractor 2 by conventional means (not illustrated).

The blade 3 is substantially rectangular whenviewed in front elevation and arcuately curved when viewed in side elevation and reference to FIGURE 1 will show that due to the fact that right-hand longitudinal member 4 is considerably shorter than the left-hand longitudinal member, the blade is situated at an angle with respect to the transverse axis of the chassis. Also the rearward sweep of the blade is considerable to permit the moving and piling of a considerable swath of snow at one time.

The blade 3 consists of a perimetrical framework 12 of angle iron or the like, strengthened by means of upper and lower transverse members 13 and 14 respectively, the former consisting of angle iron, and the latter consisting of a fiat steel strip which is supported by plates 14 at each end. Vertical angle iron members 15 extend between the upper and lower edges of the blade and are welded to the afore-mentioned members 13 and 14 by the flange thereof thus making a relatively strong backing for the sheet metal front 16 of the blade, it being understood that the members 15 are curved in order to give the blade a characteristic shape.

Reference to FIGURE 3 will show the method of attachment of the longitudinalside members 4 to the lower transverse member 14 of the blade. A pair of plates 17 are secured to the end of each of the longitudinals and extend forwardly therefrom. These plates engage over the transverse cross member 14- and are pin connected thereto by means of pin 19, it being understood that this connection is relatively loose to allow a certain amount of pivotal movement, as will hereinafter be described.

The upper portion of the blade 3 is supported by means of a diagonal member 20 upon each side of the tractor,

each of said diagonals being secured by the upper end' thereof to the afore-mentioned upper transverse member 13 of the blade. In this embodiment a shouldered portion 22is formed on the upper end of the member 2%, this shouldered portion passing through an aperture in 'underside of said front end portion.

' the transverse member 13 and then being secured by a nut 22 so that the diagonal can engage therewith The lower ends of the diagonal members 20 are socketed within an extension 24 of a sleeve 25, said lower ends being held within the extension 24 by means of pins 26 The sleeves 2-5 surroundthe longitudinal members 4 and can he slid along the longitudinal members within limits, being clamped into the desired position by means of bolts 27' extending through the flanges 28 of the sleeve. By this means, the angle of inclination of the blade can be varied within limits.

A central attachment link 29 is pivot-ally connected by means of pin 30 to the lower transverse member 14 of the blade intermediate the ends thereof, the rear end of the link 29 being pivotally connected by means of pin 31 to a bracket 32 secured to the front of the tractor chassis.

A bracket 34 also extends from a chassis member adjacent the radiator of the tractor, said bracket carrying a'cup 36 which holds the lower end of a relatively heavy duty coil spring 37 surrounding a rod 38, the lower end of which is freely slidable through the bracket 34. The upper end of the rod 38 carries a screw jack 3?, the upper end of which engages a lug 46 secured to the upper transverse member 13 of the blade. It will be appreciated, of course, that this mechanical jack can be substituted with a hydraulic jack, if desired, but the action is similar. The jack is used to control the relationship of the lower edge 41 of the blade with the ground, and

by raising or lowering the jack, the blade is raised and lowered, it being understood that the entire plow pivots around the afore-mentioned rear transverse member 16 by means of the bearing sleeves 9. By varying the load 4 of the blade 3. In order to prevent the runners 42 from being displaced from the portion 47 if the blade is elevated clear of the ground, a loop of wire 49' is secured to the runner and extends around portion 47.

I have provided steering means for these runners connected to the steering mechanism of the tractor and this is shown in detail in FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawings. The connecting rod 50 is secured to the drag link 51 of the tractor steering mechanism and extends forwardly to be pivotally connected to onefar-m 52 of a bell crank 53 pivotally mounted upon a bracket 54 which in turn is welded to the lower transverse member 14 of the blade. A further connecting rod 55 is pivotally connected to the other arm 57 of the bell crank 53 and extends to a clamp 58 clamped to a transversely situated tie rod 59. This tie rod is mounted for end shiftable movement within bearings 60 carried by triangular brackets 61, which in turn depend from the afore-mentioned lower transverse member 14 of the blade. These brackets are triangular in configuration and may he slid along bar 14, being secured in position by means of clevises 61'. The sides of the brackets are enclosed by plates 60 and form a reservoir for oil for lubrication purposes.

Universal joint connections 62 on each end of the tie 'rod 59 connect drag links 63 to the tie rod, the rear ends of the drag links being pivotally connected to pins 65 extending upwardly from the rear ends 66 of the aforementioned runners 42. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that movement of the tractor steering will on the jack 39, the traction of the device can be controlled accurately thus providing footing for the front wheels, the balance of the load being carried by the runners hereinafter described. In other words, if the jack is lowered, more of the load is carried by the runners 42 and conversely if the jack is raised, some of the load'is carried thereby, thus transferring this portion of the load to the front wheels of the tractor.

The front end of the snow plow is supported by means of ground engaging runners 42, one upon each side thereof, FIGURES 3 and 8 showing the details of this part. A sleeve 43 surrounds each of the longitudinal members 4 adjacent the front end 17 thereof, bolts 44 passing through the flanges 45 of the sleeve clamping these sleeves in the desired position. An angulated rectangularly cross sectional member 46 is welded to the underside of the sleeve and extends downwardly and forwardly for a portion of its length, and then it runs parallel to the longitudinals 4 for the remainder of its length, the latter portion being designated 47 and which is of square crosssectional configuration. The front end of the portion 47 is secured to the blade 3 adjacent the lower edge 41 thereof, by means of a clevis plate 46 welded to the This portion and the clevis plate 46' engage over a plate 47' welded to the rear of the blade 3 and bolt.46" extends through the part to hold them securely in position but permitting slight movement for blade angle adjustment. By adjusting slightly the position of sleeves 24 and 43 on the longitudinal members 4, this vertical angular adjustment can be made within limits described by the clearances provided at the point of attachment. The runners 42 are channels having a central rib'42 welded therein and have a'centrally located upwardly extending pin48, clevised V to the rib as at 42" 'by means 'of pin 48". Pin 48 is' loosely engageablewithin a vertical bearing 48' extending through and secured to the portion 47 'otthe member 46, so that the runners can rock with relation'to the memher 47 due to passage over uneven ground. An adjust-.

ing bolt 49e'ngages the upper screw threaded portion of 7 bearing 4% and acts as a lirnit stop a s'th e upper end of pin 48 engagesthelower end of bolt'49 thuspermitting. relative; adjustment between the runners 42'and the base 75 cause corresponding movement of the runners 42, thus enabling the operator to cancel out or eliminate side drafts, which may be encountered by the diagonal situation of the blade 3. I

I have provided a pair of check chains 67 extending between the pins 65 of the runners 42 and the aforementioned pins 19, in order to limit the degree of turn of the runners.

Finally I have provided a coulter 68 on the left hand lower side of the blade 3 to provide a clean cut in the snow and also to reinforce this corner of the blade.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently Widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A front end tractor driven snow plow of the class described, comprising in combination a substantially rectangular thrust chassis, and a pusher type blade mounted on the front end of said chassis, said chassis comprising a pair of telescopically adjustable longitudinal members one upon each side offsaid tractor, and a rear transverse member adapted to be secured to the rear end of said tractor, said longitudinal members being bearably supported by the rear ends thereof to the ends of said rear transverse member and adapted to pivot around said rear transverse member within limits, said pusher type blade being diagonally situated in front of said tractor,

said blade including an upper and a lower. transverse member in spaced and parallel relationship, the front ends of said longitudinal members being pivotallyjconnected for limited pivotal movement to said lower transverse member, a diagonal member situated on each side of said tractor extending between said upper transverse member and each of said longitudinal members, a central attachment linkextending between the front frame of said tractor and said lower transverse member, and ground engaging runners supporting. the front ends of said longitudinal members, said runners being pivotally connected to said longitudinal members, and steering linkage means extending between said runners and the steering mechanism of said tractor, said. linkage means including a bell crank pivoted on said lower transverse member, a link extending from one arm of said bell crank to said tractor steering mechanism, and linkage extending from the other arm of said bell crank to said runners.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said diagonal members are capable of limited adjustment at the lower ends thereof along said longitudinals, whereby the angle of inclination of said blade may be varied.

3. The device according to claim 1 which includes jack means extending between said tractor front chassis and said upper transverse member whereby said blade may be raised and lowered within limits with relation to the ground, said jack means adapted to pivot said plow about the rear of said tractor.

4. The device according to claim 1 in which said diagonal members are capable of limited adjustment at the lower ends thereof along said longitudinals, whereby the angle of inclination of said blade may be varied, and jack means extending between said tractor front chassis and said upper transverse member whereby said blade 6 may be raised and lowered within limits with relationship to the ground, said jack means adapted to pivot said plow about the rear end of said tractor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,641,723 Zinn Sept. 6, 1927 1,788,698 Wooldn'dge Ian. 13, 1931 1,854,834 Graham Apr. 19, 1932 2,029,545 Ross Feb. 4, 1936 2,117,561 McMaster May 17, 1938 2,138,783 Clark et al Nov. 29, 1938 2,321,833 Lull June 15, 1943 2,365,597 Roth Dec. 19, 1944 2,651,121 Shannon Sept. 8, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,433 Finland Feb. 1, 1951 

